LeekM, this forum is here to help each other out. Continuously creating threads just to crap on AMD .. that's not why we are here, these forums should be something positive, not negative.

I just looked at the thread that got deleted by a moderator, and I agree with his choice. Your modded drivers are appreciated by the community, I'd say focus on the good you have at hand instead of complaining at AMD all the time in these forums.

It's a real mess with AMD. Seems like Mantle for laptops isn't going to happen anytime soon and missing switchable graphics for Llano Laptops is the biggest **** I ever saw from a company for their users.

What I meant with this statement:
"Also keep in mind that using modded bioses and/or drivers is not necessarily a "free ride" to additional features."

is that experimentation is inherently subject to unexpected outcomes, this is true not only for mods but even for official beta drivers, and in fact even official releases can be problematic.

Tweaking a system to its limits either because it is required for your work needs (rarely the case) or just to see how far you can go or have the satisfaction that you have done the absolute best you could do is a wonderful world which I used to live in my younger years when I had the time (I'm now pushing 40). But I loved that world for what IT IS, which means that exceeding the standard comes at a cost (time and effort) and that is exactly what makes it wonderful because you learn a lot in the process and you get the satisfaction that YOU have made it work according to your own needs.

It is talented people like LeeKM that make this possible for us who like (or in my case used to like) to experiment with our systems and I have to say that I am really grateful to all the people like LeeKM who gave us this opportunity over the years.

Mobile GPU drivers (amd or nvidia) are supposed to be downloaded from your laptop manufacturer. PERIOD. You want to use anything else you are responsible for making it work. NOBODY ELSE.

Most desktop manufacturers also recommend that you download drivers from their page. PERIOD. You want to use anything else you are responsible for making it work. NOBODY ELSE.

If you build your own system then YOU are responsible for it. PERIOD.

Anyone who breaks those rules is responsible for their own actions. Once again a big thank you to LeeKM and all the people like LeeKM who helps all the power users out there who know what going beyond the standard is REALLY all about.

It's a real mess with AMD. Seems like Mantle for laptops isn't going to happen anytime soon and missing switchable graphics for Llano Laptops is the biggest **** I ever saw from a company for their users.

Are issues Mantle causes for cards with 1/2GB VRAM smaller than performance impact of notebook CPU on DX performance?

I do not think that AMD should focus on giving Mantle to notebooks before they do something about this VRAM usage. Since even Desktop users with HD7870 are not very happy (and that is mobile: 7970m, 8970m, M290x).

If Mantle did not have that huge VRAM usage I would agree that AMD should focus more on mobile implementation, since CPUs there are usually quite limited.

Are issues Mantle causes for cards with 1/2GB VRAM smaller than performance impact of notebook CPU on DX performance?

I do not think that AMD should focus on giving Mantle to notebooks before they do something about this VRAM usage. Since even Desktop users with HD7870 are not very happy (and that is mobile: 7970m, 8970m, M290x).

If Mantle did not have that huge VRAM usage I would agree that AMD should focus more on mobile implementation, since CPUs there are usually quite limited.

Depends on the game/app and of course settings, I prefer to max everything out but without AA (which uses a lot of memory) and under these conditions mantle works great in Thief (+30% over DX11). If one wants to use mods with ultra high res textures and 1440p with AA they should get a gpu card with 4GB+ memory anyway. With that said, optimisation by amd would be great!

ps I've seen some versions of 8970m and m290x out there with 4GB of vram, but I'll wait until someone confirms they work ok on the m17x r4 before I even consider changing.

Are issues Mantle causes for cards with 1/2GB VRAM smaller than performance impact of notebook CPU on DX performance?

I do not think that AMD should focus on giving Mantle to notebooks before they do something about this VRAM usage. Since even Desktop users with HD7870 are not very happy (and that is mobile: 7970m, 8970m, M290x).

If Mantle did not have that huge VRAM usage I would agree that AMD should focus more on mobile implementation, since CPUs there are usually quite limited.

Well basically you are right but AMD leaves us GCN Notebook users completely in the dark about Mantle, they say absolutely NOTHING. If they atleast would say Mantle support for laptops will come in a couple of months I will be happy even thought it last longer, but I hate being left in the dark. They didn't even cared to program a "Mantle is yet not supported, but we are working on that" message.

Mantle only works now for GCN laptops without switchable graphics (muxed) all other users are experience a crash when Mantle starts. It's a real mess...

What happened to Leek? I can't view his profile and his picture is gone.. did he really left?! Wow, sucks for Llano users now they have to use old drivers...

Everyone involved in any AMD driver modifications understand that AMD cut off the support for the so called "legacy/modern" switchable graphics in favour of the new models.
That is the market we are in and we understand it. However, how can a 1-2, year old laptop suddenly become "legacy"?
And what should the casual user do then?

The effort of people such as LeekM, V-FrIeNd, Leshcat, Donovan6000, Dellon123, Wagnard, the community and others I haven't mentioned, allows the users an opportunity to extend their laptop's life cycle and enjoy some new games/browsing with acceptable framerates, as well as receive normal bugfixing.

Take the 5xxx series for which none of the new drivers work properly for switching without a black screen, support was cut for them very early on whilst still being considered modern during the 6xxxm days.

It requires an incredible oversight dealing with the different switching technologies that AMD decides to break/re-add (or not fix) in combo with Intel, but as long as people are modding and trying to understand how this works the community benefits!

Whilst many are frustrated with the companies involved in this, we cannot let this get in our way in trying to help others out!

There have been many projects in our time;

Nvidia had an era where mobile users had 0 support and laptopvideo2go had a CRUCIAL role through their mods and support in offering people a prolonged product.

Now we have several modders who are trying to reach a base of people to improve the experiences of others, be it via BIOS mods, Driver switchable adjustment, performance fixes, oem specific mods, cleaners...

Hopefully AMD will also turn a corner but this will not be possible without voices and the support we give to each other.

LeeKM, don't stop modding just because of misunderstandings, difficulties with AMD have all brought us here, and we should go on working on resolution for as long as we can.

Yes lets hope for the future that everything here passes and someone continues making modded drivers for us Llano users that need working switchable gfx menus.
But if it is true about LeekM leaving, then he will be missed and always be remembered. Thank You Leekm for all your hardwork for nearly a year & helping us see the best game performance days of our laptops.

Now only other modders on guru3d will decide the fate & future of our laptop graphic drivers...so to all modders, Bless you all.